Fastener forming and driving device



r J. c. LANG FASTEINER FORMING AND DRIVING DEVICE Jan. 1, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet l File d Dec. 12, 1945 INVENTOR Joseph (LL any ATTO R N EYSJan. 1, 1952 J. c. LANG FASTENER FORMING AND DRIVING DEVICE 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.- 12, 1945v w. am a a mm mw VWMM I klll'lllkpllll lulu:

\NVENTOR Joseph C jazzy 6M, M QM ATTORNEYS Jan. '1, 1952 J. c. LANGFASTENER FORMING AND DRIVING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 1945 I5 Sheets-Sheet3 III I l lgil lu' INVENTOR Joseph GLang.

V ATTORNEYS I i l 1 14 1 Patented Jan. 1 1952 Joseph CQLangQ Pittsburgh,Pa.,assignor to Bocjl Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., ex corporation ofDelaware App lica tionDeeember 12, 1945, seen No. 634537 '14 Claiins.

This intention relates to I the art of "fasteners :and is fora driverfor driving a succession of fasteners one at a "time.

I have heretofore devised a tack type of fastener of tack-likeiform,this fastener having a cross bar forming the head, andhaving a shankwhich 21's turned down at one sidefof the cross bar intermediate theends thereof. "An especial ad- "vantage of this Tetack, asidefro'mtheface that it'providesa very effective tack fo'r upholdstering andother purposes becanse of the long head whichvi illnot pull through thefabric or other "material which'isfa'stened down, isthat a succession oftack blanksmaybebbonornically formed from a narrow ribbon'of rolledmetal. This is done by slittin'gthe metal'diagonally from oneedge'toward thecenter and thenexten'dirig the slit longitudinally,preferably along theeenter line, for the length of "the leg. A"sr'nallfraetion of an inch past the end of this slit the next similar slit isformed. Thus a succession of'leg portions are provided which areseparated from the ribbon of metal'at the other side of the centerline'throughout their length at one pointonly, the diagonal slit forminga pointbntheireeend of each leg portion. By turning the legs so 'formedfrom their original plane through an arc to a position perpendicularto'said plane, each legis then in pflsitibntobedriven. 'Ifhe continuousribbon of metal atthe otherside of *the "center lineis servered atpoints intermediate the diagonal slits transversely of the long axis ofthe ribbon to form individual complete tacks. All of "thisisdisclosedina copending application filed byme.

Theobject of the'present invention isto provide a convenient, compactand novel driver'for receivingfarolrofinetalso slittedand feeding itfrom the" hitting by the fingers. meiki'efit'a iy,

- also, it saves nicking and. rnarring furnitni e to which upholsteringis being applied byavoi'ding thefrequent hitting of the finishedwoodworkby the upholsterers hamrner. "My invention inay-bejfnore fullyunderstood by reference to "the accompanying drawings, "in

which: I

Fig. 1 'is a sideelevationpf afastenerdriving niachine' -ein'bodyingniyinvention;

Fig. 2 isa frag'nie ta ry sectioninfthe planeof -line' 1 -1 of Fig. 1,the view being a transverse horizontal'sectiom I H v Fig. Eis asideelevation of t atpomqner the cover platevvhichextends alongthe'bottornof a machine, and which is broken 'awaym Fig. '1; Fig. 4 -is-a viewsimilar tWFigfl, shoyv in'g'the entire cover plate refnoved fromthehiaehinep Fig. 5 is a 'horizontal sectionin substantially theplane ofline of Fig. 1, lookingiipfthe viewbeing affraign entary view; p I pFig. 5a isa transv'ei'se seetion in theplane line V -V of Fig. '7,looking down Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to aportionof Fig. 4, 'b 1t with thedriver element a depressed to a the runliinit of its movement;

-Fig. {7 "isa "transverse vertical'section in substantially the plane ofline VII-VII of Fig.1;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view shovving the initial step in'beginn'ing the'bperation ofth'e driver With a new strip of fasteneis;

'Fig. 9 isasimilarvieW shoviingthe slicceeding step; and p r 'Fig. "10is a View similar "to FigQB showingthe operation which follo safte'rthefirst 6ne.

In the operatio'nbf the"niachineas liereinbe ingiapplicati'on. The stripcomprises a "continu ou's ribbon '01' 'narroW flat strip metaldesignated generally as This ribbcn has a'siieeessionof regnla'rly*space'cl notches fa along j one "marginal edge, theforvvard Wall ofthese notches *being perpendicular and the other wallfbeing sloped :soas to cooperate with correspondingly shaped jpawl or ratchet teeth tobehereinafter described.

The oppoeite-edge-of the strip is slit diagonally from the edgetowa'rdthe center, and thenthe slit extends in a longitudinal direction. Withf'reference {to lthe direction in which the strip travels thro igh thedriving machine, thelong'ithe longitudinal portion is designated a Theslit a separates the leg forming portion a of the strip from the body ofthe strip, the diagonal slit :1 separating the leg at one end andforming the point of the fastener. The notches a along one edge of thestrip are preferably staggered with reference to the slits a and alsodefine the points along which the ribbon is separated in forming theindividual fasteners.

As shown in Fig. 8, the front end portion of the strip has theleg-formin element cut away so that on the first operation with eachstrip, an

incomplete fastener is formed. This is for the purpose of enabling thestrip to be properly handled in the machine, and indexing the strip forits initial operation.

In completing the fastener, the leg-forming portion a must be swung inan are about an axis transverse to the length of the strip downwardly toa perpendicular position and then the strip is severed and the blankwhich has been so formed is driven into the material into which it is tobe entered.

In the present machine, with the first operation of the driver orplunger which serves to drive the staple, the blank head having noattached leg portion, which forms the leadin end of the strip, isremoved. This is shown in Fig. 9 where the detached head portion isdesignated a and the succeeding head portions are designated :1 Insevering the incomplete blank as shown in Fig. 9, the leg-formingportion a of the succeeding blank is bent down to the perpendicularposition. With the further operation of the machine, the strip feedsforward the full length of one blank, i. e., the distance betweensuccessive notches a. On the succeeding operation this blank with theturned down leg is then driven as shown in Fig. and the leg-formingportion a of the next succeeding blank is simultaneously turned down.This sequence of operations follows thereafter during the continuedoperation of the machine until the length of the staple strips has beenexhausted. Thus with each driving operation one blank with the.bent-down leg is separated from the strip and driven while theleg-forming portion of the next succeeding blank is bent down, and atthe time that the driver raises above the fastener strip, the stripadvances one notch, or the length of one blank, to bring the nextsucceeding blank, the leg of which has been turned down, into positionunder the driver.

With this general explanation of the operations which take place, theconstruction of the ma chine may now be easily understood.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame constructionproviding at its forward end a vertical slide-way in which areciprocating plunger operates. This plunger, designated generally as 2in Fig. 1, has a terminal 3 at its upper end which may be hit with ahammer in a portable machine, or which may be depressed by. any suitableimpact mechanism when the unit is incorporated in a non-portable orportable power operated machine. At the opposite end of the frame theconstruction provides a circular chamber designated generally as 4 forreceiving the fastener strip which is coiled up within it, theconvolutions of the coil of the strip being designated generally as A.Intermediate this chamber or magazine portion and the forward portionwhich houses and provides a slide for the plunger, there is a connectingbody having an opening 5 therethrough with a cross bar 6 above theopening, the under side of the cross bar being preferably scalloped toprovide a convenient grip for the fingers of the operator, while theopening 5 provides clearance for the fingers.

The frame of the machine is formed by one main plate, designatedgenerally as 1, and which is best shown in Fig. 4. The main plate 1 ispreferably formed as a casting with the opening 5 formed therethrough,and with a part 6' forming part of the grip 6. At one end it is providedwith an upstandingfiange 8 of generally circular contour. Within thiscircular flange 8 there is cast an upstanding hub (see Fig. 2) 9. Thishub 9 serves to rotatably support a removable flanged spool or sleeve ID on which the convolutions of the fastener strip A are wound. Extendingforwardly under the open portion 5 the main casting is provided with aflat panel or surface If on which a block !2 carrying the strip feedingmechanism is removably secured. At the forward or left-hand end of thecasting, as viewed in Fig. 4, there is a vertical portion I 3 in whichthe plunger 2 is received.

The casting is provided with a number of screw holes which are threadedto receive screws l4 which hold a complementary cover plate IS in place.The cover plate I5 is of less extent than the main casting l and servesto cover only the front or left-hand portion of the main castingtogether with part ofthe feeding mechanism, and extends back only to themagazine-forming part of the machine. This cover plate does not normallyhave to be removed, being formed in the manner described only forconvenience in assembly, and to provide access to the interior of themachine for purposes of replacement or repair of parts.

There is a second cover plate designated generally as [6 which ispreferably stamped from sheet metal, and which is readily removable togive access to the magazine for the replacement of the staple strip andaccess to that portion of the feeder through which the strip moves forthreading the strip into the machine. This cover part has a generallycircular end portion Ilia which encloses the chamber A of the magazine,and it has a forwardly extending portion I6b that extends horizontallyunder the lower edge of the cover plate l5, covering the lower portionof the feeder to be hereinafter described. As shown in Fig. 3, theextreme forward end of this extension lfib has a tongue I to thereon,which, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, extends under a part ofthe cover plate I5 to hold this narrow horizontal extension of the coverplate in place.

For detachably holding the cover IS in position, a screw I1 passesthrough the hub portion 9 and through a central opening in the coverplate I6. Threaded onto this screw is a nut l8 having a radial extensionIS. The cover plate l6 has a slot 29 therein extending outwardly fromthe opening through which the screw I! passes. To remove the cover platel6 it is merely necessary to turn the nut from the position shown inFig. 1 to a position where the extension I9 is in line with the slot 20,at which time the nut will be inefiective to hold the cover plate inplace, and it may beremoved by lifting it away from the machine. When itis lifted away so that the cover plate l6 entirely clears the nut l8with its extension [9, the cover plate It may be slid rearwardly untilthe tongue I is clear of the part of the machine with which it isengaged. Thus the cover plate can be very quickly removed, and it .canbe reapplied with equal facility by merely engagingthe tonguefin "itsproper place, swinging the circular end of the cover back in positionover the magazine, allowing the slotted openingto pass over the key nut,and then tightening the hut down on the screw. e

The foregoing description relates to the general Organization of themachine which {is the present preferred embodiment, but it will be"understood that this is merely illustrative or the machine. Themechanisms for driving-the fasteners and feeding the strip may now bedescribed in detail. The plunger 2 has 'laterall'y extending flangesZaat each side of its forvvard edge, these fianges being guided inchannels 2;: formed in the main casting, "and the forward "part of thefixedcover plate 15, -'as best shown in Fig. 5. Near the lower end "ofthe munger or driver is a rearwardly extending "cam 2|, theefiectivesurface of which is designated 22, and Twhichslopes upwardlyand rearwardly as viewed in Fig. 4. Below this -cam the plunger isprovided with'a terminal portion adapted to perform the-operationshereinbefore described. The terminal por- 'tion includes an ofisettongue23 (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10) for engaging the leg-forming portion of thefastener and bending it downwardly, this portion also being shown inFig. 4. It is to the rearfandoffset from the main driving tongue 24which has arib 25 on one surface thereof. 7 Itis adapted to applypressure to the head of the fastener whiletherib '25 is adapted to bedirectly overthe leg and apply pressure likewise to the leg of thefastener. The tongue 24 projects downwardly a distance substantiallybelow the tongue 23. It should also be mentioned that the rear cornerdesignated 24a of the tongue 24 forms one element of a shear for cuttingoff the formed blank from the strip. s

The plunger is also provided intermediate its ends with notches 26 and21 between which are serrations 28 (see Fig. 4) for cooperation with aspring-centered pivoted pawl 29. The purpose of this pawl is to preventthe plunger or driver from moving in either direction 'unless its fullstroke in the opposite direction is completed. This is "a well-knownmechanism in movements of this kind, and constitutes no part, per se, of'theinvention. The plunger carries a headed bolt .30 on its rear facewhich forms an abutment to 'l iin'itt'he upward travel of the plunger,a'nda tension spring 3] (see Fig. "7) connected between a pin 32 on theplunger and a fixed anchorage 33 oir'the "cover plate [5 serves toreturn theplunger to the uppermost osition shown in Fig. 4 after theplunger has been driven downwardly.

As hereinbefore'mentioned, the part H of the "main plate carries afoundation plate l2 on which the strip feeding mechanism is mounted. Theplate l 2 is of a thickness somewhat greater than the width of thefastener strip. It is provided with a groove -34 along its entirelength, this groove being open on that face of the platei2 which isturned toward the removablecover 1B. The depth of the groove is equal tothe full width of the fastener strip A, and the width of the groove isjust slightly greater than the thickness of the strip A so that as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, the end of the strip may be entered in therein -orright-hand end of the groove :as viewed inFig. 4 and the strip pushedforward until the forward end of the strip is under the tongue 24 0f thethattheedgecdntaihingthnotches-Here outwardly, that is, toward the openedges: the groove 31.

Mounted on the lower portion of the hlock 12 is a U-shaped piece 35 withtlie'legsof the U turnedupwardly and extendingfacross the slot 34. Ontopof the U shapdpiece 3'5 is-a -U-shap'ed 'flatspring 36 having arms 3that overlie the upwardly-extending arms or the 'u-sha'p'e d piece 35.There are pins 38 on the arms =31 of the "spring, which pins slidablypass through the arms :of the piece 35, and as shown in Fig. '5, pressinto engagement with the 'no tchesfa in the fastener strip. These pinsare in the shape "of pawls having'a square forward face andarearwardlysloping face. 'Asis clearlyevident from "Fig. '5, these pinsenable the strip to be pushed forwardly throughthe groove 34, but"theysprin'g:

into the notches and acting as *pawls to p'reventmovement of thestripinthe oppositedirction. 'Once'the strip has been engaged with thespring'fpressed pins or pawl's 38, it cannot be pulled backwards. e s

Mounted on the plate 12 "abovefthe slot 34 1s, a slide plate :40 havinga slot '4! through which passes a fixed guide pin -42. The slide plate'40 also has two other slots 43 through which pa'ss guide pins 44.Tension springs 45 are stretched between the fixed pins "44 and anchorpins 46 on the slide. The purpose of these springs 'is "to urge theslide plate 40 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 4. This slide plate has*a cam engaging roller 4! at its upperforward corner which bears againstthe sloping cam surface 22 on the plunger and'which is urged intoengagement "aigainstthis c'a'm surface by the springs "45 whichpulltheslide toward the left as viewed in Figs. '4 and 6.

When the plunger 2 is depressed, the cam 22 engaging the roller 41forcesthe slide plate 40 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4. I Whenthe plunger movesupwardly, the springs "45 serve to return the slideplate to the position shown in Fig. 4. This motion is clearly shown inFig. "6, where-the plunger is in its lowermost position and theroller4'! is at the end of the'cam 2 I,

Theslide plate 40 has twodownwar dly-extending arms 48 that also extendover the groove 34. There is an inverted U-shaped fiat spring-49 on theslide plate 40 having arms 50 thereon. These arms carry pawl-like pins5| similar in all respects tothe pins 38 on'the fixed spring 36. Whenthe slide 40 is cammed back, -thepinsi ll ride out 'of the notches, andalong the edge of the strip, the resilience of the arms 50 permittingthe pins to yield. When, however, the slide 40 comes forwardly, thepins5i Willcatoh in the notches a on the strip'and feed the strip forwardly.I

Thus with'ea'ch operation of the .plunge'rdownwardly, the slide 40 movesback while thefixed pins 38 prevent the strip from moving back, andonthe return movement of the slide 40 whenthe plungerraises, the stripis advanced.

'As'shown in Figs. 5 and '5a,'the plate 12 extends forwardly to thefront or thejho'using "and there is an o ening 53 lililhfi housingthrough which the stripfmaybe pulled, should it be defective. Onesurface of the plate |2 provides a shoulder 52 against which thedownwardly-turned leg-of a fastener abuts, as the strip is fed forward,thus providing both an indexing stop and a guide for two surfaces that=is, one face andone edge of the legof 'the fastener. The leg,beingrthus'cone fined, sulppo it d along with. the a dditional up rt h rne tend sg bed. aee n tabu lrlin z driver. The strip is inserted'ir themachine so 7 6 When' the strip Ais shoved into the machine, the

leading edge of the strip i under the tongue 24 of the driver. The firstblank end is cut off, and on the next feeding of the strip, the legportion of the succeeding blank engages shoulder 52 to limit the strip.

For'initially supporting the leg on its other two sides during thebeginning of the driving operation, there is, in the lower part of thehousing, a transversely movable guide block 55 (see Fig. 7) with anotched toe 56 that is beveled on its upper edge, this block having ahollow extension 51 that is slidably guided in a bushing 58 threadedinto an opening in the lower part of the cover plate [5, and a spring 59is operatively interposed between the bushing and the extension. The toeof the block is normally positioned in spaced relation to the rear ofshoulder 52, so that the leg of the tack, when the tack is driven, isbetween the toe 56 and the shoulder and the edge of the lag between theblock 55 and the face of the plate [2. The top of the guide block isbeveled at a steep angle, so that when the lower end of the driver hitsthis surface, the block will be pushed back, i. e., toward the left asviewed in Fig. 7, to allow the driver to come down until its end isabout flush with the bottom of the machine. However, at the time theguide block is pushed back, the fastener will have penetrated part Wayinto the substance into which it is driven, and the leg will beunsupported by the toe only in the finalstages of driving, at which timethe short undriven length needs support no longer.

When the driver raises, the guide block springs back into position. Itshould be noted in Fig. '7 that the beveled surface of the guide blockis below the point of the leg of the fastener next succeeding, so thatthe guide block offers no obstruction to the advancing of the strip offasteners.

The supporting plate [2 has a hardened steel block 50 secured theretowith the top of this block forming an extension of the lower side of thegroove 34. The upper forward corner 6! of this block just clears theshoulder or corner 24a of the driver, forming the other jaw of the shearfor severing the fastener to be driven from the strip.

The lower end of the driver may, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, project downfurther at the edges than at the. center, so that when the fastener isbeing set at the end of the driving operation, the two ends of the crossbar forming the head of the fastener will be pressed down and eliminateany tendency for them to spring up. One of these projections, previouslyreferred to, is marked 24a and the other is designated 24b in Fig. 4.

In operation, assuming a strip of fasteners to have been entered in themachine, the first head of the strip will have no leg-forming portion(see Fig. 8). The strip will be pushed through until this end i underthe driving plunger. Then the plunger is operated. The incomplete blankis sheared oil? and driven down. As the driver moves past shearingposition tongue 23 on the driver, offset as it is to engage only theleg-forming portion, bends the leg of the next succeeding blank down, asshown in Fig. 9. During the down travel of the plunger feeder plate 48is cammed to the right a viewed in Fig. 4. Then the plunger raises.Springs 45 pull the feed plate to the left, advancing the fastener stripuntil the newly sheared end hits the shoulder 53 (see Fig. On the nextoperation of the plunger, the driver tongue 24 cuts ofi the second blankwith its now depending leg, drives it, and the leg portion of the nextblank is at the same time turned down.

' It will be observed in Fig. 6 that when the slide plate is cammed backand the fastener cut-off on the down stroke of the plunger, the end ofthe strip bears against the rear edge of the tongue 24, so that when theplunger starts to move up. the strip cannot feed forward. Hence the cammay move up and disengage the roller 41 on the slide plate. Then whenthe end of the plunger clears the strip, the springs 45 act to snap thestrip forward, giving a positive feed and driving the leg. againstshoulder 52 to make sure it is vertical and square against the guideshoulder. Thus the operation is repeated, a strip containing severalhundred fastener blanks being accommodated in the machine.

The end of the driver guide may be shaped in various ways wheredesirable, to enable the driver to work in close to corners.

The strip feeding arrangement, cooperating with notches on the edge ofthe strip with the pawls working perpendicularly to the edge is ofconsiderable importance in simplifying the feeding mechanism and makingit compact and yet positive. If the feeding mechanism fails, the plate[2 with all of the feeder parts may be removed and replaced by a similarunit.

The machine provides a, relatively simple, cheap driver, positive in itsaction for feeding, bending the legs, cutting off and driving thesuccessive fastener blanks accurately, speedily, and easily.

While I have shown and described one preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein.

I claim:

1. A driving machine for accepting a prepared strip and converting thesame successively into fasteners and driving the same, said machinecomprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, the plunger having acombined shear and driving portion, means for advancing the strip underthe plunger whereby predetermined lengths of the strip are successivelyremoved and driven, and means on the plunger in advance of the plunger,relatively to the travel of the strip, for engaging an edge portion ofthe strip less than the full width of the strip and turning said edgeportion down about an axis transverse to the width of the strip to form.on each length to be subsequently sheared a downwardly turned leg.

2. A driving machine for accepting a prepared strip and converting thesame successively into fasteners and driving the same, said machinecomprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, the plunger having acombined shear and driving portion, means for advancing the strip underthe plunger whereby predetermined lengths of the strip are successivelyremoved and driven, means on the plunger in advance 'of the plunger,relatively to the travel of the strip, for engaging an edge portion ofthe strip less than the full width of the strip and turning it downabout an axis transverse to the width of the strip to form on eachlength to be subsequently sheared a downwardly turned leg whereby theresulting sheared blank is of T form, and means in the housing below theplunger for supporting the downwardly turned leg against deflection.

3. A driving machine for accepting a prepared strip and converting thesame successively into fasteners and driving the same, said machinecomprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, the plunger having acombined shear and drivstrip' and converting the same successively intofasteners and drivingI the same, said machine comprising a housing; aplunger'in the housing the plunger having a combined shear and drivingportion, means for advancing the strip'under the plunger wherebypredeterminedleng-ths of the strip are successively removed and driven,,

means on the plunger in advance of the plunger relatively to the travelof the strip for engaging;

an edge portion 01' the-strip and turningit down about an axistransverse to-the width of the strip to form on each length to besubsequently sheared a downwardly turned leg, means in the housing belowthe plunger for supporting the downward ly turned leg againstdeflection, said last named means including a transversely movable guidemember. the guide member having an inclined surface thereon to be engaed by the driver portion of the plunger for removingit from thepath ofthe driver portion. and resilient means for returning the uide menibertoposition;

5. A driving machine for converting fastener blanks from a preparedstripinto completed fasteners of T-sh pe and driving the same; the striphaving an edge which is slitted at regular intervals inwardly toward,the center and then longitudinally to provide a succes ion of blankseach with a leg forming portion formed bv the edge soslitted, t emachine comprising a housing, a plunger in the housing, said plungerhaving a driver portion and a bendin tongue at the lo er end thereof,means for feeding and supporting the prepared strip to position the endof the strip under the plunger, meansin the housing-cooperating with thedriver portion of theplunger to provide a shear to sever the end bl nkfrom the strip, said' fee ing means also positioningthe legform'ing'portion only of thenext succeeding blank under the bending ton fiie ofthe plunger whereby such lee' formin portion is turned dow'n to aperpendicular position.

6. A driving machine for conv rting fast ner blanksfrom a prepared s ripin o completed T5 fasteners of T'-shaoe and drivin the same; the striphaving an edge whi h is slitted atrreg lar intervals inwardlytowardfthel center and'then lon itu inallv to rovide a" s ccession of"blanks each with a leg formin portion formed by the ed e so slitted, themachine comprising a housing, a plun er in the housing, said plungerhaving a driver portion and bending tongue at the lower end thereof,means for feeding and su porting the prepared strip to position the endof the strip iii] under the plunger, means in the housing cooperatingwith the driver portion of the plunger to provide a shear to sever theend blank from the strip, said feeding means also positioning the legformin portion only of the next succeeding blank under the bendingtongue of the plunger whereby such leg forming portion is turned down toa perpendicular position, and means fixed in the housing forming a fixedguide for the leg on the blank which has been severed and is beingdriven.

1 0 7; Aldriving machine for converting: fastener blanks? from aprepared strip=intos completed: fasteners of T-shape andi driving thesame; the strip having an edge which: isslitted at; regular intervalsinwardly toward the center and then longi tudinall'y to provide asuccessionof blanks each with al'egl forming portion formedby the edge"so slitted the: machine" comprisinga' housing; a plungeri in: thehousing; said: plunger having adriver pontioni and bending. tongue atthe lower end thereof, means: for feeding and supporting the preparedstripto position the endof the striprunder the:plunger, means-inthehousing cooperating; with-the driver portion of theplunger to:provide awshear to sever the end blank from the strip; said feeding.means also positioning the 1eg'= forming: portiononlyi of: the nextsucceeding; blanks under the'bendi-ng tonguelof the plunger whereby"such'wleg forming portion is: turned down: to a: perpendicular postvion, means fixed-in the housing formingfarfixed guide. for the leg onthe: blank. whichhasrbeen severed and is being driven, and other plungeroperated'movable guid'e means in'the housing in' cooperating relation tothe fixed guide-means.

8. A driving machine for: converting fastener blanks frbm aiprepared"strip into completed fastenBrSE'Of T-shape and" drivingwthe; same,therstrip having. an edge which is slitted-i at regularintereva'lsinwardly; toward the center and then longitudinall-y"toprovidea succession of: blanks each with a leg' forming portion formedby'the edge= soslitted"; the machine comprising a' housing, a plunger imthe, housing, said plunger having a" driver portion and a bending':tongue: at the lower" end thereof means for feedingand supporting theprepared stripto position thez end of the stripi under the plunger,meansli'nsthe housing coopera-ting with the driverportioniofi theplunger to provide a sh'e'ar to s'eve'r the-end blank fromthea strip,saidi feeding means also positioning; the leg;

formingi portion only of the next" succeeding.

blank under the bending t'o'nguei of the plungenf whereb'y such legforining portion is turned down toa perpendicular position; the preparedstrip: having indexing notches therein partly div-icing the strip whereit is to-be severed; said-feeding means en a ing the indexing notchs inthe) stripfol" advancin tnesame': I

9. A driving machine foi converting fastener blanks fronia prepared' srip into ecmpieted ras tenersof 'T-sha-pe and driving the saiiie'j meanshaving? an edge which is Swedes regular inter tudinally to providea"succession{of blanksfeachf" with aleg forming" portion formed by theedgef so slitted, the machine comprisirigahousing, a

plunger in the housing; said plunger having-a driver portion ahdabending tongue at the lower end thereof, means for" feedirig andsupporting the'preparedstrip topositiorrthe end of' the strip under theplunger, means in the housing cooperating with the driver portion of theplunger to provide a shear to sever the end blank from the strip, saidfeeding means also positioning the leg forming portion only of the nextsucceeding blank under the bending tongue of the plunger whereby suchleg forming portion is turned down to a perpendicular position, theprepared strip having indexing notches therein partly dividing the stripwhere it is to be severed, said feeding means engaging the indexingnotches in the strip for advancing the same, and other means engagingthe indexing notches for holding the strip against backward travel.

10. A fastener driving machine of the class described comprising ahousing having a plunger guide and plunger at its forward end, a coiledstrip holding magazine at its rear end, a connecting portion with astrip feeder housed therein between the front and rear portions, thehousing being comprised in part of a removable cover plate over themagazine and with a tangentially extending portion that extends alongand is positioned on the strip feeder and removal of which affordsaccess to the magazine and feeder for inserting and starting a newstrip.

11. A fastener driving machine of the class described comprising ahousing having a plunger guide and plunger at its forward end, a coiledstrip holding magazine at its rear end, a connecting portion with astrip feeder housed therein between the front and rear portions, thehousing being comprised in part of a removable cover plate enclosing themagazine and a portion of the strip feeder, the cover plate having anarrow portion extending along the feeder with a tongue removably hookedunder the housing, the cover plate having an enlarged portion enclosingthe magazine, and means for releasably holding the enlarged portion inplace.

12. A machine of the class described having a channel for receiving astrip of fastener blanks in which one edge of the strip is provided witha succession of longitudinally extending leg forming elementsand theother edge is provided with ratchet-like notches, means for advancingthe strip step by step, and a die block at one edge of said channel, adriving guide beyond the die block to which the blanks are progressivelypresented, and a driver movable transversely across the channel, thedriver having a die for cooperating with the die block to turn down theleg forming element of each blank of the strip transversely to thelength of the strip when a blank of the strip is positioned onto the dieblock, said driver having another portion for shearing the blankrearwardly of the one on which the leg is turned, and which is thenpositioned in said guide, the driver having also a part for engaging thetop of the severed blank to drive it.

13. A machine of the class described for operating upon a preparedstriphaving a continuous portion and having an edge which is regularlyslitted to provide a succession of leg-forming elements that areparallel to the axis of the strip, the strip thus constituting asuccession of fastener blanks each with a leg-forming element, saidmachine having a guide means therein for a driver, and a drivercooperating with the guide means for shearing off the endmost blank onthe strip and driving the same, and means on the driver and cooperatingmeans along which the strip moves for effecting in succession thebending of each leg-forming element perpendicularly to the strip andabout an axis transverse to the 12 strip so that each' leg of each blankis bent to the perpendicular position in succession as the precedingblank is driven.

14. A machine of the class described for operating upon a prepared striphaving one continuous edge portion and one portion which is regularlyslitted to provide a succession of leg-forming elements that areparallel to the axis of the strip, the strip thus constituting asuccession of connected fastener blanks each with a headforming partprovided by the continuous edge of the strip and a leg-forming partprovided by the slitted portion, said machine having means forguiding'and feeding the strip, said machine having a guide means thereinfor a driver, and a driver cooperating with the guide means for shearingoff the endmost blank on the strip and driving the same, and formingmeans on the driver positioned to engage only the leg-forming element ofthe next succeeding blank together with anvil means for cooperating withsaid lastnamed means on the driver for efiecting in succession thebending of each leg-forming element perpendicularly to the strip andabout an axis transverse to the strip so that each leg of each blank isbent in succession as the preceding blank is driven.

JOSEPH C. LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 86,353 Blake Feb. 2, 1869 210,511Felter Dec. 3, 1878 312,550 Brock Feb. 17, 188.8 626,755 Frechette June13, 1899 689,410 Reibisch Dec. 24, 1901 712,331 Reed Oct. 28, 1902778,600 Newton Dec. 27, 1904 971,130 Jessup 1 Sept. 27, 1910 11,067,541Palgreen July 15, 1913 1,377,295 Wentworth May 10, 1921 1,479,680 SibleyJanll, 1924 1,481,867 Holbrook Jan. 29, 1924 1,603,690 Hart Oct. 19,1926 1,663,242 Crofoot Mar. 20, 1928 1,705,819 Kruse Mar. 19, 19291,846,545 Crofoot Feb. 23,1932. 2,066,157 Pankonin Dec. 29, 19362,082,822 Bruhn June 8, 1937 2,083,227 Drypolcher June 8, 1937 2,174,708Sears Oct. 3, 1939 2,265,423 Fass Feb. 9, 1941 2,274,559 'Nitkey Feb.24, 1942 2,294,463 Krant Sept. 1, 1942 2,330,575 Grauding Sept. 28, 1943Peterson July 3, 1945

